GFA’s Kayla Batres controls California’s Sophia Marie Gonzales to win at FlorWrestling’s Who is No. 1 showcase event on Saturday in Iowa. (Photo courtesy Sam Janicki / SjanickiPhoto.com
For some wrestlers, the season begins early.
Greens Farms Academy junior Kayla Batres of Milford became the second Connecticut wrestler to win a match at FloWrestling’s Who is No. 1 meet on Saturday night in Coralville, Iowa.
The made-for-the-web showcase features 24 of the top boys and girls wrestlers in the country with the simple question – Who is No. 1? Boys wrestle folkstyle while the girls wrestle freestyle.
Batres, who was ranked No. 2 in the country at 110 pounds, beat top-ranked Sophia Marie Gonzales of California, 10-0, by technical fall in just 3:31.
“Kayla’s performance wasn’t just a win, it was a statement,” said Jack Conroy, head coach at Greens Farms Academy. “She trains with intensity, competes with fearlessness and represents Connecticut wrestling on the national stage with pride. We could not be prouder.”
It was another great performance for Batres this year.
In July, she became the first Connecticut girl to win a Junior Division championship at USA Wrestling’s Junior and 16U national championship tournament in Fargo, North Dakota. She won at 110 pounds and was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament.
She had two previous second place finishes in Fargo in 2024 and 2023.
In February, she helped the GFA boys wrestling team win a New England championship by competing in the boys tournament, finishing second in her weight class.
A week later, she won her second national championship at 107 pounds at the Prep School national championship tournament at Lehigh.
And last December, she won the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Chicago at 110 pounds, beating three collegiate wrestlers to win the tournament for the second straight year.
Southbury’s Sarah Henckel (Blair Academy) won in the showcase event in 2024 with her victory at 145 pounds. Henckel lost at 138 pounds in 2022.
Other Connecticut wrestlers in the showcase include William Henckel (Southbury/Blair Academy), who was second at 160 pounds in 2023 and Danbury’s Ryan Jack, who was second at 132 pounds in 2019.
FloWrestling began holding the Who is No. 1 showcase in 2013. Girls began competing in the event in 2021.
Previous Who is No. 1 results (FloWrestling)
Previous Connecticut wrestlers in Who is No. 1
2019 – Carver-Hawkeye Arena, University of Iowa
132lbs. – Jesse Mendez (Indiana) dec Ryan Jack (Connecticut), 9-8
2022 – Cliff Keen Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
138 lbs: Zaynah McBryde (New York) dec. Sarah Henckel (Connecticut), 5-4
2023 – Sports And Activities Center, Kenosha, Wisconsin
160 lbs: Joe Sealey (Pennsylvania) dec. William Henckel (New Jersey) 4-2
2024 – UPJ Sports Center, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
145 lbs: Sarah Henckel (Connecticut) dec. Charlotte Gilfoil (Pennsylvania), 4-2
